IE496

Industrial Engineering
Internship
Dr. Barnes
March 17, 2008
Lecture # 8
Ethics Part 2
 Review of Ethics
Last time we looked briefly at
The origins of ethics

Theories of ethics (Utilitarianism,

Duty Ethics, Rights Ethics, Virtue
Ethics)
Engineering as a profession

Codes of ethics (IIE, NSPE, Order of

an Engineer)
Ethics cases (e.g., space shuttle)
 This week
How to analyze problems
from an ethical viewpoint.
 Analyzing Ethical Problems
1st Step completely understand all
issues involved and enumerate them.
Three categories of issues
Factual what is actually known about
a case.
Conceptual the meaning or
applicability of an idea.
Moral which moral principle is
applicable to the situation.
 Two analysis techniques
1. Line Drawing

2. Flow Charting (lines must have

directional arrowheads)

Supporting narrative and

 1. Line Drawing
Useful for situations in which the applicable
moral principles are clear, but there seems to be
a great deal of gray area about which ethical
principle applies.
Polar opposites are established.
Positive paradigm.
Negative paradigm.
Moral problems are placed along line in
accordance with where it is perceived that each
fall on a continuum.
P is placed where you believe problem fits
relative to entries.
Elementary line-drawing technique

Negative paradigm Positive paradigm

(NP) (PP)
 Example - Problem 1
Dispose of slightly hazardous waste into
lake.
Water source for nearby town.

EPA limit 10 ppm.

Average concentration of disposal 5

ppm
Expect no health problems.
Person not able to detect (taste) compound.
 Problem 1 continued
Hypothetical Considerations
1. Dump 5 ppm waste in lake; harmless, but
unusual taste.
2. Towns water-treatment system can effectively
remove waste.
3. Town can remove waste with company-
purchased equipment.
4. Town can remove waste with taxpayer-
purchased equipment.
5. Occasional (rare) illness, lasts for an hour.
6. At 5 ppm people get fairly sick, lasts one week,
no long term effect.
7. Special equipment can reduce ppm to 1.
 Hypotheticals on line and
problem estimate
Negative paradigm Positive paradigm
(NP) (PP)

6 5 4 1 P 7 2,3
 Flow Charting
Helpful when there is a sequence of
events or a series of consequences
that flows from each decision.
Gives a visual picture and readily
allows one to see results of each
decision.
 Elementary flow chart

Operation

Decision
 Example - Problem 2
Should Union Carbide build a plant at
Bhophal? Investigate

Laws.
Safety standards.
Cost considerations.
Union Carbide
-Flow Chart
 Please read

 Info Source
Engineering Ethics, 2nd Edition, Charles B. Fleddermann,
Chapter 4, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004.

Read -
Section 4.5: Conflict Problems
1st - Conflicting moral choices, but one is obviously more
significant than the other.
2nd Creative Middle Way, an attempt at a
compromise that will work for everyone.
3rd When 1 and 2 dont work, bite the bullet, use your
gut feelings and make best possible choice from
information available.
Section 4.6: Bribery/Acceptance of Gifts
Bribery never acceptable.
Ethical Problem Solving Techniques:
Addressing Airbus 330-300 Case
Study
By:
Joe Mathew
IE 491
University at Buffalo

April 22, 2005

 Incident Summary
Airbus A330-300 departed Vancouver
Substantial amount of smoke and
vapor seen emitting from Engine 2
Emergency landing in Vancouver
Engine 2 shut down
Inspection showed fuel was leaking
 Causal Factors
1. Incorrect entry on maintenance office duty board
Did not follow trouble shooting manual (TSM)
Unnecessarily removed LP fuel line from
fuel/oil heat exchanger
2. Unfamiliarity with Equipment
Retainer hidden from view
Did not use Aircraft Maintenance Manual
(AMM)
3. Engine vibration caused detachment of fuel/oil
heat exchanger LP fuel line
Substantial leak from Engine 2
 Line Drawing Causal Factor 1, 2

Negative Positive Paradigm

Paradigm

Compliance with P Compliance with

TSM and AMM was TSM and AMM was
not achieved. achieved.

Negative Paradigm: The workers do not follow the Trouble Shooting Manual and
the Aircraft Maintenance Manual resulting in troubleshooting and performing
maintenance without reference
Positive Paradigm: The workers followed the Trouble Shooting Manual and
Aircraft Maintenance Manual so that all troubleshooting and maintenance is
performed with proper reference and guidance.
Flow Charting Causal Factor 3
Preventive Yes
Yes Yes
fuel leak Proper High-Power Fuel Leak
inspection inspection with Engine Run Detection
needed on use of elevated Performed? Implemented?
aircraft platform?

No No No

Perform Perform Implement Fuel Leak

inspection with High-Power Engine Run Detection
use of elevated
platform

Preventive Fuel
Leak Inspection
Performed
 Dharmy Bhatt
IE 491: Ethics Presentation
April 22, 2005

Bells Amusement Park

Tulsa, Oklahoma
 Accident Summary
April 20, 1997 Two roller coaster cars collided
on the Wildcat roller coaster
The two cars were going up a hill and an anti-
rollback device failed to keep the first car on the
track and it slipped back and crashed into the car
behind it.
The roller coaster was inspected two weeks
before this accident.
One person was killed and five others were
injured.
 Causal Factors
1. The chain dog was riding up on the
edge of the chain trough.
If the chain rides up the side of the car and
onto the left leg of the chain near the top of
the hill, the chain can disengage and the car
could slip.
2. Maintenance records/maintenance of the
roller coaster.
There was no documentation for scheduled or
nonscheduled maintenance of The Wildcat, or
for operating procedures.
 Flowchart The chain dog Factor

Has the chain dog been No The Wildcat can

changed? operate.

Yes

No A maintenance worker
Has someone inspected the
must inspect the
changes?
changes.

Yes

No Fix the height of the

Is the chain log at the proper chain dog and
height? inspect again.

Yes

The Wildcat can operate

properly.
 Line Drawing-- Maintenance

Negative Paradigm Positive Paradigm

P 3 4 2 5 1
Proper documentation
Documentation hinders
exists and the roller
the performance of each
coaster is acceptable.
car.

1. Every time The Wildcat breaks down, it is documented.

2. Operating procedure are followed for the most part.
3. Operators havent been trained at all.
4. Changes made to the car dont need to be written down.
5. Proper part replacements should be followed.
Ethics Problem Solving:
Whiteshell Air Service Ltd.
Airplane Engine Failure

Theresa J Moehle
IE 491
April 22, 2005
 Accident Summary:
Airplane departed Lac du Bonnet,
Manitoba without incident
After plane was leveled in air, large
backfire heard and loss of engine
power
Pilot landed plane in swampy area
with minor and severe injuries to
passengers
 Casual Factors
Incorrect installation of airplane parts
Cylinder push rod tube
Valve adjustment screw protrusion beyond
limits
Caused damage to valve train exhaust valve
would not open overtime
Failure to properly inspect airplane
Field Barometric Power Reference Check
Valve clearance checks on 400-hr schedule
Line Drawing: Incorrect Installation of Parts

NP PP

P 2 3 1
Airplane parts are Airplane parts
installed incorrectly are installed
causing immediate, correctly
fatal damage

1. Parts are installed incorrectly, but corrected immediately

2. Parts are installed incorrectly, and cause minor damage overtime
3. Parts are installed incorrectly, but cause no damage overtime
Flow Chart: Failure to Properly Inspect Plane

Should plane be
inspected?

Have parts No Had last Yes Has pilot Yes Inspect plane
been Check within noticed Irregular
before flying
replaced? 400 hrs? Sounds?

Yes No No
Inspect plane Inspect plane Inspection
before flying before flying is not needed
 Assignment
Work in groups to
Choose one problem/accident and e-mail
it to me to get my permission before you
start sources of info on original class
Schedule and Syllabus document.
Earliest date and time will decide who get
problem if more that one group asks for it.
Analyze problem/accident using both
techniques shown today.
Present your analysis in class using PPT.
Send me one copy of your electronic file
via e-mail.
 Assignment - continued
Dates: April 14th, 21st, 28th in class
All reports due April 14th: one written
report and accompanying PowerPoint
slides per group paper and electronic
copies to me; supporting material such as
diagrams or photos are useful
Presentation order announced April 14th
12 minutes per group, 4 minutes per
person
 Groups
Group 1: Anipindi, Awad, Bednowitz
Group 2: Brown, Chandra, Chang
Group 3: Cheng, Chung, Davis
Group 4: Devendorf, Dooling, Frank
Group 5: Henchey, Hyde, Indraputra
Group 6: Jackson, Luo, Lyke
Group 7: Markin, Mohd Yusof, Myers
Group 8: Pedicone, Piecuch, Prok
Group 9: Snyder, Stange, Stovers
Group 10: Szalkowski, Willis, Worthy
The End
Questions??